SALVATION
Carlos Aguilar

How do you feel when you get behind the wheel of an automobile? Most of us are very secure. We have driven for a number of years, we trust the equipment, we are long past our feelings of fear that we had when we first started to drive. This is how Christians ought to feel about gaining access into heaven.

The Bible is clear on the matter. Luke writes, "And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him”! (12:4-5). Paul states in 1 Cor 9:27, “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” He also admonishes all to “work out our own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil 2:12). The Hebrew writes states, “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (3:12-13). No godly man or woman, whether preaching in the pulpit or teaching a private class can discount the passages above. Those who do are preaching error. There is too much at stake, there are too many dangers and pitfalls on the way for any righteous man who knows the scriptures to tell you to rest assured and that all will be well. Sin, false doctrine, indifference, and drifting away are the dangers we must face in this life. We must be sober and watchful regarding them and not allow any feelings of security to lull us into sleep over them.

Again let us turn the inspired men of the Bible. Paul in 1 Cor 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” And Peter writes, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3-5). Thus when one sees that the power of sin is great, the strength of the adversary is terrible, our fear of him and of his weapons should never be swallowed up in any false feeling of security. As long as we are living in this world there is a danger of losing what we have. Yet, as one studies the promises of comfort and security one finds them to be stronger than the warnings. No matter how great the temptation God will make a way of escape, and any temptation, which God knows a man cannot bear, will not be allowed to be presented. Nothing can separate us from the love of God, and when all is finally evaluated and explored I think we can draw the following conclusion.

No matter what the past…no matter what happens in the future…There is nothing outside of ourselves that we need fear…No temptation, no power, nothing whatsoever can remove us from the grace and the mercy of God…There need only be one fear for the Christian…the fear of their own free will!

This is the only thing God will not tamper with. He will not make us “robots.” He allows man absolute free will at all times. He will never circumvent our own will. This is where the fear comes in, and if you examine all the scriptures carefully you will see that this is the case. No one, living in this life can ask or expect God to remove this free will from him, and as long as he has it there will be reason to be concerned.

The scriptures stressing fear, which we read earlier, are simply striving to cause each Christian to remain motivated to the great need to keep his will in fervent faith and love of God. Our zeal and our love for God cannot be allowed to wane or grow cold, or we will change our will and once our will is changed we will be lost. Notice some of the passages of Scripture where fear and security are balanced perfectly together: Paul in Phil 2:12-13 writes, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” This passage stresses this well. We look at ourselves with fear and trembling, we look to God and understand that he has placed everything in the gospel necessary for our salvation. The motivation is there, the power to keep us safe and secure for the entire sojourn on earth is there. With sin and rebellion all around us and the possibility of sin lurking around every next moment of our lives there is no such thing as relaxation and a security so strong that we stop watching and caring. Yet at the very same time to those who are walking in the light is the promise of continual cleansing of all sin. Peter writes, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:8-11). The word of God is the power which will shield us. We must fear and keep our faith strong, God will do all the rest.

CHURCH HISTORY: A BIBLICAL VIEW
Part V - No. 34 Compiled and written by Gary Eubanks

At the beginning of the Seventeenth Century there arose two noteworthy doctrinal systems which ran contrary to what was regarded as orthodox Reformation thought. Though these two doctrinal systems had some fundamental differences, they also had several similarities which suggest that they be considered together. Not only did they develop at approximately the same time, but they also found receptive hearts in the same place - the Netherlands. They were most alike in their opposition to some basic doctrines of Calvinism. Finally, both doctrinal systems denied that Christ's death served as an atonement for men's sins. With so much in common it is not surprising that they influenced one another.

Though Socinianism was characterized by contradiction of some basic doctrines of Calvinism, it is best remembered for its rather unorthodox Christology. The system derives its name from an uncle and nephew, Lelio (1525-1562) and Faustus (1539-1604) Socinus. Although the former led a life of outward conformity to Roman Catholicism, he privately questioned the Trinity and through his writings was supposedly a strong influence upon his nephew. It was through Faustus, then, that this doctrinal system was propagated and popularized. He traveled in France, Italy, Switzerland, and Transylvania before he went to Poland where he lived for the last twenty-five years of his life and exerted most of his influence.

There is much in Socinianism that is agreeable with the Scriptures and, therefore, admirable. Socinians accepted the Scriptures as the source of truth on the basis of the miracles which attested to them. Therefore, the Socinians believed in prayer, renunciation of the world, humility, patient endurance, and human free will. They rejected the false doctrines of original sin and unconditional predestination.

However, Socinians went wildly astray from the Scriptural teaching on the work and nature of Christ. They believed Christ to be only a man (Jn. 1:1), albeit a man who led a life of exemplary obedience. As a reward for His obedience, Christ was granted wisdom, a resurrection, and divinity. Hence, the purpose of Christ's life and death was to set an example for men. Connected with this was the Socinian view of atonement. Socinians regarded forgiveness of sin and satisfaction for sin (as by the death of Christ) as opposite and mutually exclusive conceptions. If God forgives sin, why does satisfaction for sin need to be made? Furthermore, Socinians believed it to be absolute injustice to make the innocent suffer for the guilty, as Christ suffered for sinners (I Pet. 3:18). Hence, Socinians denied the need for Christ's death as an atonement for their sins. Salvation could be obtained merely through a life of obedience.

Obviously, Socinianism is contrary to the teachings of God's word. In the first place, Christ did not receive divinity as a reward for righteousness. He has always been divine (Jn. 1:1). Divinity by its very nature is an eternal quality. It cannot be bestowed. Christ has either always been divine or He is not divine at all. As to Christ's life and death, there is no doubt that by them He set a good example for men, but that was not their primary purpose. Christ died as a propitiation for men's sins (Rom. 3:25; I Jn. 2:2; 4:10). Satisfaction for sin is not contrary to forgiveness of sin. It is through the satisfaction for sin rendered by the death of Christ that forgiveness is made possible. When men sinned by violating God's law, God's just nature demanded satisfaction, and He was willing to accept the sacrifice of His own Son in lieu of men's condemnation.

Yet, this forgiveness through Christ's sacrifice is extended to each individual on the condition of his obedience. Furthermore, it is not necessarily unjust for the innocent to suffer for the guilty. The innocent Christ suffered for guilty men, but He did so voluntarily (Jn. 10:17,18). Also, Christ did not actually suffer the punishment (hell) for men's sins. He suffered the loss of His life, not the loss of His soul.

Arminianism is notable as a reaction to Calvinism. In 1589 a theologian Jacobus Arminius (1560-1609), was appointed to defend the proposition that God decreed election and reprobation and then allowed the fall to take place as a means of carrying out His decree. As a result of his studies Arminius came to the conclusion that the doctrine of unconditional predestination was untrue. He and his followers eventually came to reject other cardinal features of Calvinism - limited atonement, irresistible grace, and the impossibility of apostasy. Oddly enough,-however, Arminians retained the Calvinistic idea that men are unable to do anything good of themselves. One of Arminius' followers, Grotius, set forth the idea that Christ's death was a tribute to the sanctity of God's law which had been offended by men. For God to have pardoned without demonstrating His regard for His law would have brought it into contempt. Hence, Grotius taught that Christ's sacrifice was not the payment of a penalty for men's sins but that it upheld the majesty of God's law. Thus, he satisfied the Socinians, but he robbed the gospel of its heart by denying that Christ had died for men.

Bob and the Lord stood by to observe a baseball game. The Lord's team was playing Satan's team. The Lord's team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the 9th inning with two outs.

They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate whose name was Love. Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because Love never fails.

The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single because Faith works with Love.

The next batter up was named Godly Wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch; Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass, because Godly Wisdom does not swing at Satan's pitches. Ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked, because Godly Wisdom never swings at Satan's throws.

The bases are loaded. The Lord then turned to Bob and told him He was now going to bring in His star player. Up to the plate stepped Grace.

Bob said he sure did not look like much! Satan's whole team relaxed when they saw Grace. Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen. But Satan was not worried; his center fielder, the Prince of the Air, let very few get by. He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing to the ground; then it continued over the fence for a home run!

The Lord's team won. The Lord then asked Bob if he knew why Love, Faith and Godly Wisdom could get on base but could not win the game? Bob answered that he did not know why.

The Lord explained, "If your love, faith and wisdom had won the game you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, Faith and Wisdom will get you on base, but only My Grace can get you home."

Brethren, remember to keep family here in Oroville in your prayers. We have many who have been suffering with physical ailments for quite some time. We have others who continue to grieve the loss of loved ones. Some who have concerns about family members in the military. And there are others who may have spiritual weaknesses, that need our attention, love, and prayers. God promises us that “effectual, fervent prayer avails much” let us all “abound in love and good works.” RDT,sr